Today, we’re exploring three Chinese words that can even confuse experienced learners: 会 (huì), 能 (néng), and 可以 (kěyǐ).
Mastering 会, 能, and 可以 is a real game-changer! Picture this: you’re exploring China and want to say, ‘I can speak Chinese,’ ‘I can eat spicy food,’ or ‘Can I use your Wi-Fi?’—but you accidentally mix them up! Uh-oh! that’s why getting these words right for fluent and natural conversations is crucial.
EXPLAINING 会(huì)
会 means ‘to know how to’ or ‘to have the ability to do something because you’ve learned it.’ It’s often used to talk about skills or things you’ve learned, like languages, cooking, or playing an instrument.
我会说汉语。
I can speak Chinese.
Bǐdé huì shuō Hànyǔ.
小丽会游泳。
Xiaoli can swim.
Xiǎo Lì huì yóu yǒng.
Another meaning of 会huì is to express likelihood.
太阳都下山了，他还会来吗？
Tài yáng dōu xià shān le, tā hái huì lái ma?
The sun has already set. Will he still come?
大卫不喜欢被人管，他是不会和你结婚的。
Dàwèi bù xǐ huān bèi rén guǎn, tā shì bù huì hé nǐ jié hūn de.
David doesn’t like being controlled; he won’t marry you.
What is 能 néng
能 is all about being able to do something because you have the capacity or permission to do so. It’s like saying, ‘I’m able to,’ or ‘I’m capable of.’
我非常饿，我能吃下五碗饭。
Wǒ fēi cháng è, wǒ néng chī xià wǔ wǎn fàn.
I am very hungry; I can （am able to ） eat five bowls of rice.
我能看懂韩语。
Wǒ néng kàn dǒng Hányǔ.
I can understand Korean.
能 also expresses possibility in the sense of something permitted by objective conditions or by what is reasonable or appropriate.
我能借你的笔用一下吗？
Wǒ néng jiè nǐ de bǐ yòng yīxià ma?
Can I borrow your pen for a moment?
我能帮你吗？
Wǒ néng bāng nǐ ma?
Can I help you?
The meaning of 可以 kěyǐ
可以 have four ways of usage:-
Expressing permission
我可以在这儿抽烟吗？
Wǒ kěyǐ zài zhèr chōu yān ma?
Can I smoke here?
Expressing capabilities
只要你肯努力，你是可以做到的。
Zhǐyào nǐ kěn nǔlì, nǐ shì kěyǐ zuò dào de.
As long as you are willing to work hard, you can achieve it.
Expressing something worth doing
这件事很有意义，我们可以试试做做看。
Zhè jiàn shì hěn yǒu yìyì, wǒmen kěyǐ shì shì zuò zuò kàn.
This matter is very meaningful; we can give it a try.
Has the meaning of not bad/passable
纳豆的味道我还可以接受。
Nà dòu de wèi dào wǒ hái kě yǐ jiē shòu.
I can still accept the taste of Natto.
When in doubt, if you’re asking if something’s allowed or seeking permission, “可以” is your go-to word!
COMPARISON AND COMMON MISTAKES
1. When referring to someone who has learned a skill or action for the first time, you can use 会 or 能, but most often is 会. But, when someone has lost the capability to do something due to illness or accident, and later regained the ability, you can only use 能. Here’s a quick example for clarity!
小丽会游泳。
As this concerns something Xiao li has learned, you can also use 能.
小丽能游泳。
But if Xiao Li is sick, she is thus not able to swim. You can only say，
小丽病了，她不能游泳。
Xiǎolì bìng le, tā bù néng yóu yǒng.
Xiao li is sick, she cannot swim.
It is incorrect to say, 小丽病了，她不会游泳。不会 is the negation of 会, which means do not know how to.
What about 可以？
小丽病了，她不能游泳。You can use 可以 for this sentence.
小丽病了，她不可以游泳。As Xiao li is sick, she does not have the permission (from the doctor or her parents) to swim.
And, when Xiao Li has recovered from her illness, she can swim again. In this case, you can only use 能or 可以.
小丽的病好了，她能游泳 or 她可以游泳, but not 她会游泳。
2. When discussing the possession of ability, we can use 能or 会. But when talking about the achievement of a certain level of efficiency, you can only use 能.
他是个大胃王，很能吃。他一分钟能吃十个汉堡包。
Tā shì gè dàwèiwáng, hěn néng chī. Tā yī fēn zhōng néng chī shí gè hànbǎobāo.
He is a big eater and can eat a lot. He can eat ten hamburgers in one minute.
You can only use 会 in the first part of the sentence, but not the second part. It is wrong to say,
他是个大胃王，很会吃。他一分钟会吃十个汉堡包。X
Tā shì gè dà wèi wáng, hěn huì chī. Tā yī fēn zhōng huì chī shí gè hàn bǎo bāo.
3. You can use 能 or 会 with 愿意, 答应, 同意, and 高兴, but not 可以.
你想去美国工作，你的父母能答应吗？
Nǐ xiǎng qù Měiguó gōngzuò, nǐ de fùmǔ néng dāyìng ma?
You want to go to work in the United States; can your parents agree?
你想去美国工作，你的父母会答应吗？
Nǐ xiǎng qù Měiguó gōngzuò, nǐ de fùmǔ huì dāyìng ma?
You want to go to work in the United States; will your parents agree?”
The nuance of the questions is slightly different when using 能 or 会. 能 expresses the possibility in the sense of something, whereas会 expresses the likelihood of something happening.
4. 可以” (kěyǐ) can function as both a predicate and a complement but not 能. The usage of 会 will depend on the context of the sentence.
你这次考试的成绩还算可以。
Nǐ zhè cì kǎo shì de chéng jì hái suàn kěyǐ.
Your exam results this time are considered acceptable.
You cannot change to,
你这次考试的成绩还算会。x
你这次考试的成绩还算能。x
你喜欢怎样就怎样，我都可以。
Nǐ xǐhuān zěnyàng jiù zěnyàng, wǒ dōu kěyǐ.
Do whatever you like; I’m fine with anything.
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